Let me know if you’re interested.

Please check out this survey on social attitudes!

Hi there! We are researchers at the University of Kent working on a study on social attitudes among the British public. We want to recruit a sample that is representative of the whole of UK and therefore we need respondents from Fenland! It is hoped that the project could provide valuable information on some understudied factors that underlie attitudes towards different social groups. Please consider participating in the survey on the link below if you identify as British and live in the United Kingdom. Please note that in order to participate you have to be at least 18 years old. It takes about 10-15 minutes to complete the survey. Thank you so much!

https://kentpsych.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bwHHObSQ0phZqYu

There's a new creative writing group that's started up in the Wisbech area. Whilst we're very much in our infancy, we're keen to grow, and are hoping to start 'official' meet ups soon.

It's a very positive group, and writers of all genres and abilities are welcome.

For more information: nextdoor.co.uk/g/x1yy4z93x/?is=nav_bar

I've lived here all my life and never really considered this until a conversation with my girlfriend's dad (from the north) who was curious what landmarks we use to navigate, or recognise, due to our lack of hills.

My only answer off the top of my head was the gigantic cold store on the Wisbech bypass.

What do you guys consider to be Fenland's landmarks?

We've just taken over r/Ely and have it back up and running. :)

Ping u/Fenla I didn't know that this lovely sub existed so thank you for making me aware of it. Stay safe.

I’m looking at how this subreddit should be shaped, and currently the only resolution is that it should be a haven from the negativity you often find in all other British subs about current events, but instead to keep it local and appreciative.

If you think you could be of ANY assistance at all, feel no hesitance to shoot me a message!

Cheers

William Sylvester Harley, founded the Harley Davidson motorcycle company in America, 1903, was the son of William Harley. William Harley was born in a Fenland cottage in Victoria Street, Littleport, in 1835. Meaning the renowned symbol of nonconformity in the Harvey Davidson motorcycle, is well at home in the Fens.

• The Fens are particularly fertile, containing around half of the grade 1 agricultural land in England.
• The area is home to the lowest land point in the United Kingdom, Holme Fen in Cambridgeshire, at around 2.75 metres below sea level
• Witchcraft was rife in the Fens in the 1600's. Parliament appointed a witchfinder general, Matthew Hopkins, to rid East Anglia of the "venomous old hags".
• Babies born in Littleport on March 21st, May 1st or Septemebr 23rd were thought to be blessed with good luck and able to see into the future.
• The Fenland people took opium up until the 20th century, dulling the senses to the "wet and disease-ridden" environment they lived in.
• Meat was a luxury in the 1800's and most Fen folk had to grub for vegetables in the hedgerows. This led to food riots in Littleport in 1816, following which 24 people were arrested and sentenced to death.
• Until the early 1900's the town of Ely was haunted by the deathly howls of 'shucky dogs' on moonless nights. Shuck was the name of a black dog who was killed with his master when the master's horse bolted into a nearby river.
• 'Fenland Lighters', based on flat-bottomed Viking ship design, were used to carry crops along the network of dykes and rivers. They were sometimes pulled by horses submerged up to their necks with a handler standing on their backs.
• The peat of the Fens has shrunk dramatically since the area was drained. A metal post that was driven fully into the peat of Holme Fen in 1851 now stands 13 ft proud of the surface.
• Massive flooding and 100mph winds hit the Fens in 1947, swamping 1000's of acres and sweeping away houses. A military rescue operation named "Noah's Ark" was launched.
• Due to the flat land, and large number of dykes and lakes, Fenland labourers used to Ice skate to work during the winter.

Bonus fact!

Cambridge may well have invented modern football.

While the average Cambridge academic doesn't exactly conjure up sporting prowess, the univeristy might actually have been the birthplace of modern football. The “Cambridge Rules” were drawn up at the University in 1863, and influenced the Football Association’s original rules that came later. For example Cambridge was the first place that stopped players from picking up the ball, brought in an early offside rule and stopped players from hacking, although that one still hasn't got through to everybody.

After the last mod being inactive for 3 years I’m glad to announce the subreddit is back open for business for you Fenny boys and girls.

If you’re interested in increasing our presence on this site so we don’t have a dead subreddit with posts years apart, please participate! It’s very much appreciated.

For news, please head to r/FenlandNews

r/FenlandHistory is a work in progress and I’m not sure whether to continue with or not, for now history posts can be here or there.

Welcome home!

When did u last take off?

I've just moved down from Newcastle for a new job. Anything, other than murders and muggings, to know?

I had some relatives from the North come round for lunch a few days ago to break up their journey from Kent. It was weird because they just couldn't get over how flat the area was; I think they were genuinely shocked.

But the thing is having been raised in the fens all my life I don't think about the flatness, if anything I often find it weird that whenever I travel anywhere else there seem to be so many hills.

So my question to you, my fellow web-footed inbreds (as my Dad calls puts it), is: Do you forget how flat the countryside is here and do you think we take it for granted?

EDIT: Formatting